Financial Assistance

The most likely form of financial assistance will be in the form of a loan, which will require repayment. Advanced pay repayment will be automatically withdrawn from your monthly pay.

Prices in Puerto Rico are slightly higher than in most States because of the cost of importing goods. Local produce, meats, and bakery products are similar in price to those in the mainland. There is an 11.5% sales tax in PR. Quality standards are the same since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees and approves products sold in stores.

The cost of housing compares with many larger cities in the east coast. If you are willing to travel over 20 miles, you might find lower housing costs. Government liability car insurance is mandatory in PR. The cost is $99.00 per year covering $3,000 in property damage. The cost of commercial vehicle insurance is more expensive than most states.

Soldiers and some DoD civilians assigned to Puerto Rico are entitled to a 11.5% COLA. (Military rates vary from civilian).

Please be aware that at the present time there is no laundromat in Ft Buchanan. The local economy can be used for such purposes until your household goods arrive.

Be prepared to arrange for a rental car while waiting for your POV. Mass transportation in PR is not available everywhere and would take a long time to move from one place to another. Inside the installation a bicycle would be sufficient.

Assistance will be provided as a noninterest bearing loan, a grant (when appropriate), or a combination of loan and grant. Types of emergencies covered are: emergency travel, mortgage, rent, initial deposit, temporary lodging, food, healthcare not covered by TRICARE, utilities, vehicle repair, funeral expenses, basic essential furniture, appliance costs, cranial helmets, PCS travel, child car seats, dental care for dependents, minor home repair, invitational travel orders, clothing, immigration and passport fees for dependents, special need medical equipment, spouse relicensing and recertification, and non-receipt of or loss of funds or food.

Eligibility

Active-duty Soldiers and their eligible dependents. Soldiers retired from active duty because of longevity and their dependents. Retired Army Reserve Soldiers and National Guard and their dependents who have reached the age of 60 and are receiving retirement benefits. Medically retired Soldiers and their dependents including both those placed on the Permanent Disability Retired list (PDRL) and the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL).  Surviving Spouse and Dependents Children of Soldiers who died while on Active Duty (including those on Title 10 orders) or in an eligible Retired status. Members of the Reserve Component of the Army (National Guard and Army Reserve under Title 10 USC. on continuous Active Duty for more than 30 consecutive days and their eligible dependents.

The purpose of Temporary Lodging Allowances (TLA) is to partially reimburse a Service member (SM) when:

More than normal expenses incurred while occupying temporary lodgings and expenses for meals obtained as a direct result of using temporary lodgings (OCONUS) that don't have facilities for preparing and consuming meals.

Initial arrival at an OCONUS permanent duty station (PDS), including reporting for TDY at an activity within the OCONUS PDS limits for Government quarters assignment, or while completing arrangements for other permanent living accommodations when Government quarters are not available; a few days deemed sufficient, but ordinarily, not more than 30 days (Fort Buchanan).

TLA upon departure can be paid for a maximum of 10 days prior to departure. TLA is not authorized while on PCS/Terminal leave. TLA entitlement ends the day prior to signing out on leave.

TLA is authorized upon initial arrival (reporting for duty). You are required to check into your command to begin entitlement. TLA is not reimbursable if you are on ordinary leave.  TLA will be submitted in (10) night increments.

Thirty (30) days of TLA are authorized unless SM is pending assignment of Government Housing.  Sixty (60) days TLA are authorized if purchasing a home.

There are no extensions after the 60-days. TLA is driven by aggressively seeking housing. It will be validated through a Housing Referral Record that will be provided upon your in-processing or receipt of your first TLA whichever comes first.  Be advised if you are not aggressively seeking off-post housing, TLA will be discontinued.

Note: TLA and OHA entitlements cannot overlap.

Required documents are: 

• Copy of Orders
• Form 2066-R-E: Temporary Lodging Allowance
• DA Form 1351-2: Travel Voucher
• DA Form 31: Request and Authority for Leave
• Copy of Flight Itinerary
• Itemized Lodging receipt with zero balance

Resort fees, parking, personal purchases, and surcharges are not covered under the JTR. Please email roomtaxpr@tourism.pr.gov for further guidance on how to request Tax Exemption before processing TLA.

Moving can be very costly for military Families despite all the financial entitlements. It is highly recommended that you make an appointment with a financial counselor at the Army Community Service (ACS) before the move. Your installation Finance and Accounting Office can also provide you with detailed information on your financial entitlements associated with the move. The Army Emergency Relief (AER) program can assist soldiers and family members with bona fide financial emergencies.

Financial assistance activities comprise financial education, training and information, counseling, and referral. The scope of each component extends to long-range personal development, taking a proactive approach. The goal is to help Army personnel and their Families to receive educational tools on money management.

Financial education connects closely with other ACS programs, because financial distress can affect a person or family's ability to cope with some areas of life. For example, the already difficult transition to a new location to include cultural adaptation would be further complicated by additional strains caused by financial difficulties (loss of supplemental income, bad credit, lack of cash flow, etc.).